Improvement in fire-escapes



J. E. LINDLAU.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Patented Nov.23,1875.

No.170,Z81.

PETERS, PHOYO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D. C-

1 1 TATES ATENT JOHN E. LINDLAU, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 170,281, dated November 23, 1875 application iiled Octoh or 25, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoHN E. LINDLAU, of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Fire-Escape, of which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 is a face view of my improved fireescape when let down. of the same in the same position as in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top view of part of the upper winding mechanism. Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section thereof on the line 0 c, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section on the line k is, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a face view of the lower operating mechanism, and Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse section thereof on the line 0 k, Fig. 6.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to various improvements in fire-escapes of the .kind that are attached to buildings; and consists, first, in connecting a horizontal winding-shaft, which is hung on the roof of a house, and upon which a flexible fire-ladder is wound, by suitable connection, with an unwinding mechanism situated near the sidewalk, so that in case of a lire the ladder maybe unwound and let down by a policeman or other person on the street. The invention also consists in making the rungs of the flexible chain ladder of metal tubing, so that the same may be light and at the same time fireproof and durable. The invention furthermore consists in combining with the aforementioned unwinding mechanism an alarm which will be sounded whenever the ladder is let down, and

in other details hereinafter described.

The letter A in the drawing represents a horizontal shaft hung in bearings B B, that are fastened to and project from the copings or roof of a house in such a manner that the shaft A will be elevated above the roof parallel to the front or side of the house. The shaft A may either reach partly or completely across the roof of one house, or it may reach over two or more houses, it beingrepresented in Fig.1 of the drawing to reach over two houses. To the shaftA are fastened the ends of the chains to a of one or more flexible ladders, D D, so that when the shaft A is re- Fig. 2 is a side view,

volved in one or the other direction the ladr der or ladders will be wound upon or unwound from such shaft, as the case may be. I) b b are the rungs of the fire-ladder D. These rungs are fastened to the chains a a by being perforated, to allow the chains to pass through, I

would be too heavy, if the rungs have the requisite strength". The ladders l) D are of a length to reach the street when let down, and are preferably of a wid th to extend across allthe principal windows in the side or front of the house, so as to enable all persons within the house. to conveniently reach the' ladder in; case of fire. The lower end of the ladder or ladders D D has a heavier connecting-bar, b, which connects all the ladders, when two or more are used, and is provided with books 01 d, by which the ladder or ladders may be fastened to staples e e, that are secured in'the sidewalk of the street. These hooks and staples serve to keep the extended ladder or ladders properly stretched. In front of the shaft A is hung, on or above the r0of,a second parallel shaft, E, over which the unwound ladder hangs, as in Fig. 2, andwhich serves to prevent the ladder from injuring the cornice and other ornamental work of the house. Upon the shaft A, and near one end thereof, is mounted a cogwheehf, that meshes into a smaller cog-wheel, g, mounted upon the shaft E, so that on revolving the shaft E the shaft A will also be revolved to wind vup or unwind the ladder. Motion is imparted to the shaft E by means of an endless chain or belt, h, that passes over a chain-pulley, t, on.

the shaft E, and also over a chain-pulley, j, which is mounted upon a revolving shaft, 1. This shaft 1 is hung in a box, F, which is fastened to the body of the house or other stationary support near the sidewalk of the street, so as to be within convenient reach. The box F is closed by a door, t, which can be locked, so as to prevent unauthorized persons from operating the shaft 1. The shaft 1 may be revolved by crank-handle or key m, which is kept locked in the box F. After the time in case of fire let down the ladder.

box is opened and the handlem appliedito the shaft 1 said handle 122. may be turned to revolve the chain-pnlleyj, chain h, and shaft E, and thereby also the shaft A. This will cause the ladder D to be unwound from or wound upon such shaft A, and to be thereby either let down upon or raised from the street, as may be desired. Thus a policeman or other authorized person, who may have access to the box F by a key or otherwise, may at any On the shaft 1, or on an arbor in gear therewith, is also mounted a wheel, 10, having projecting prongs, as in Fig. 7, which will on revolving throw a spring-clapper, 0, against a gong, 12, that is secured within the box F. In this way an alarm will be sounded to warn the tenants of the house, and of. adjoining houses, of the existence of a fire whenever the ladder is let down. To the roof of the house, and at both sides of the ladder D, are secured stops q q, that project in front of the house, and serve to retain the lower bar I) of, the ladder D when the same is wound up, as indicated in Figqet. In this way the lower end of the ladder will never bewound upon the shaft A, but will always be suspended in position to draw the ladder down as the same is being unwound. The lower bar b will also serve as an ornament to the house, and as forming part of ,the cornice. A hood, G, may be hinged to the roof, and serve to protect the wound-up ladder D, and the shafts A and E, and the other parts of the mechanism that are situated on the roof, from the weather. A brake, r, is applied over the shaft E, and can be operated by a cord, 8, from the street, to prevent the ladder D from unwinding with too great rapidity. The endless chain h is in cased in and protected by a gutter, H, that is attached to the front or side of the house, and extends from the roof to the box F. This gutter may also be used for carrying off the rain-water.

In case it is desired to preventthie'ves from Q letting down the ladder to get access :to the house. a ratchet-wheel, a, maybe mounted on the shaft E or upon the shaft A, and used in connection with a click, "u,that engages into the teeth of the ratchet-wheel. This will prevent any person on the street from letting down the ladder unless the click is first lifted 2. The flexible fire-proof ladder D, 0011- structed of tubular rungs b b and chainsa, substantially as described. i i

3. The combination of the endless belt or chain h, shaft A of a fire-ladder, unwindings shaft Z, and box F, with the gutter H, within which said chain is incased, substantiallyjas 4. In combination with two or more flexible fire-ladders, D D, that are fastened to the same shaft A, the bottom bar 1) connecting the lower. ends of all said ladders, substantially as herein shown and described. t

5. In a fire-escape, the combination of the street-box F and operating chain h with the shaft 1, pron ged wheel a, spring-clapper 0, and gong 19, all combined within said box, substantially as herein shown and described.

JOHN E. LINDLAU.

Witnesses:

E. O. vWEBB, F. V. BRIESEN. 

